Wheel and axle construction



April ,1948. H. B. LEDFORD 2,439,012

WHEEL AND AXLE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 14, 1947 tar wpaaw A rm rneys Patented Apr. 6, 1948 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WHEEL AND AXLE CONSTRUCTION Hershel B. Ledford, Dahlonega, Ga.

Application March 14, 1947, Serial No. 734,802

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in wheel and axle construction, especially although not necessarily, for automotive vehicles, the primary object of the invention to provide an arrangement of this character which substantially eliminates lost motion and the possibility of shearing action developing between the wheel and the axle, besides rendering mounting or dismounting of the wheel on the axle easier and quicker.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a structurally stronger and mechanically more effi'cient construction of the character indicated above, which is of unusual radial and axial compactness, and which, despite increased strength and accessibility, can be made smaller, if desired, than prior constructions of this type.

Other important objects and advantages oi this invention will be apparent from the followin description and the [drawing appended thereto, wherein merely for purposes of illustration, a presently preferred embodiment of this invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a fragmentary outboard and elevation of an arrangement in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary outboard and elevation showing the wheel hub with the axle flange, cruciform pin, and pin retaining plate removed.

Figure 6 is an outboard end elevation of the axle flange, and,

Figure '7 is a plan view of the cruciform pin.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 8 generally designates a cylindrical wheel hub having a, wheel attaching or wheel mounting flange 9 at its inner or inboard end, provided with bolt holes led to accommodate conventional wheel mounting bolts (not shown) for securing in place thereon a wheel 9a.

Opening through the outboard end of the hub 8 is a concentric relatively large diameter cylindrical bore 19, into the inner end of which opens a coaxial smaller bore H. The smaller bore ll rotatably receives the driving axle 12 (as shown in Figure 2) and the larger bore rotatably receives the axle flange l3 thereon.

The outboard end or face of the axle flange I3 which is preferably flush with the outboard end or outboard face 14 of the hub, so that a cruciform key ll, having right angularly intersecting arms 8 of the proper length and of the same cross section as the slots of the key seat l5 and the notches Hi, can be seated in the key seat l5 and notches l6, flush with the outboard face 14 of the hub 8, as shown in Figure 2.

It is obvious that with the key ll properly fitting the seat [5 and notches I6, the axle I2 and hub 8 care non-rotatably connected together, and that the relatively large cross sections and wide bearing areas of the interengaged parts provide great structural strength and positive resistance to any rotation of the hub 8 and axle l2 relative to each other, whereby danger of looseness or of shearing action between any of the components 7 of the connection, such as accompanies the use of bolts and the like for the purpose, are eliminated.

For holding the axle l2 in the hub 8 against unwanted relative axial movement, the circular retaining, plate l9 is provided, of substantially the same diameter as the hub 8. Studs 20 penetrate the retaining plate at intervals and, thread into the outboard face M of the hub, and the plate I 9 is provided with an annular compression gasket 2!, wide enough to engage substantially the full width of the hub face 14 and the portions of the arms [3 of the key I! exposed thereto in the notches [6, whereby upon tightening the studs 20, the plate 13 holds the key ll engaged with the seat I5 of the axle flange l3, and thereby holds the axle flange I3 in place in the hub bore l0 against the inboard end of the hub bore I0, and at the same time seals th interior of the hub against ingress of dust, dirt, and moisture.

It is obvious that with the device of the invention assembled in operative condition as shown in Figure 2, the hub 8, with or without a wheel 9a mounted on the hubs wheel flange 9, may be rapidly and easily removed by turning out the studs '20 until the retaining plate l9 can be removed.

For convenience in withdrawing the key M from and reinstalling the key in the axle flange seat [5, a threaded axial bore 22 may be provided in the key to accommodate a suitable threaded tool (not shown). A similar threaded bore 23 may be provided in the outboard end of the axle flange [3. 7

With the'key l1 removed from the seat l it is obvious that the hub 8 may be rotated freely with respect to the axle 12.

Various modifications and ohanges are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A wheel and axle construction comprising an axle having an enlarged diameter axle flange on its outboard end, said axle flange being formed in its outboard face with a key seat opening through the periphery of said flange, a hub formed with a relatively large diameter cylindrical bore opening through its outboard face accommodating said axle flange, said hub further being formed with a reduced diameter bore coaxial with and communicating with the inboard end of the first mentioned bore and accomfnodating said axle, the side of said large bore being formed with at least one notch opening through the said outboard face of the hub and with whichthe peripheral opening of said key seat can register, a key loosely fittin said key seat and having a portion to reach into each notch whereby relative rotation of the axle and hub are precluded, and retaining means se cured on said hub for holding said key in place.

2. A wheel and axle construction comprising an axle having an enlarged diameter axle flange on its outboard end, said axle flange being formed in its outboard face with a key seat opening through the periphery of said flange, a hub formed with a relativel large diameter cylindrical bore opening through its outboard face accommodating said axle flange, said hub further being formed with a reduced diameter bore coaxial with and communicating with the inboard end of the first mentioned bore and accommodating said axle, the side of said large bore being formed with at least one notch opening through the said outboard face of the hub and said key being substantially flush with said outboard face of the hub with the inboard end of the axle flange engaging the inboard end of said relatively large diameter bore of the hub. 3. A wheel and axle construction comprising an axle having an enlarged diameter axle flange on its outboard end, said axle flange being formed in its outboard face with a key seat opening through the periphery of said flange, a

hub formed with a relatively large diameter cylindrical bore opening through its outboard face accommodating said axle flange, said hub further being formed with a reduced diameter bore coaxial with and communicating with the inboard end of the first mentioned bore and accommodating said axle, the side of said large bore being formed with at least one notch open:

ing through the said outboard face of the hub and with which the peripheral opening of said key seat can register, a key loosely fitting said key seat and having a portion to reach into said notch whereby relative rotation of the axle and hub are precluded, and retaining means secured on said hub for holding said key in place, the outboard end of said axle flange being substantially flush with said outboard face of said hub, and said key being substantially flush with said outboard face of the hub with the inboard end of the axle flange engaging the inboard end of said relatively large diameter bore of the hub, said retaining means comprising a retaining plate removably secured to engage said outboard face of the hub, said key, and the outboard face of said axle flange so as to hold the parts in place.

HERSHEL B. LEDFORDv 

